Texas Rangers
Established: 1961
Other Names:
Washington Senators (1961-1971)
2016 results: 95-67,
1st in AL West
2017 Prediction: 2nd
World Series Titles: 0
Most Recent: N/A
Last World Series
Appearance: 2011
Last Division Title: 2016
Ballpark: Globe
Life Park in Arlington
Est: 1994
Best Season: 2011
After losing the 2010 World
Series to the San Francisco Giants in five games, the Rangers took another shot
in 2011. They won six more games than they had the previous year, finishing
with a 96-66 record, good enough to win the AL West by ten games over the LA
Angels. They took on the Tampa Bay Rays in the best-of-five ALDS and won the
series in four games. Next up was the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. In a
high-scoring affair, the Rangers won their second consecutive Pennant by
knocking off the Tigers in six games. They played the St. Louis Cardinals in
the World Series and took a three games to two lead into the sixth game. Twice
in Game 6 (the 9th inning and the 10th), the Rangers were
one out away from winning the World Series. But the Cards rallied to tie the
game both times before winning it in the 11th. St. Louis took the
seventh game to win the Series. The Rangers were led on the mound by CJ Wilson,
Colby Lewis and Derek Holland, and at the plate by Ian Kinsler, Adrian Beltre,
Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz.
Best All-time Player:
Ivan Rodriguez
“Pudge” broke into the Big
Leagues as a 19-year old in 1991 and while he only played 88 games, he still
finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. It was a sign of things to come.
His career lasted 21 years and he played 13 of them with the Rangers, appearing
in 1507 games. While with Texas, he blasted 217 home runs, 842 RBIs, batted
.304 and even stole 81 bases. He was an All-Star ten times with the Rangers
(added four more with Detroit), won ten Gold Gloves (another three with
Detroit) and six Silver Sluggers (one with Detroit). He was the American
League’s Most Valuable Player in 1999. After leaving Texas, he played one year
with the Florida Marlins, leading the team to the 2003 World Series
Championship, and won the NLCS MVP Award that year. Four years with the Tigers
were followed by brief stints with the Yankees, Houston, Texas again, and
Washington.
Best Player on the
Current Roster: Adrian Beltre
Beltre will turn 38 this year,
but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down. His sixth year in Texas saw Beltre hit
32 home runs, drive in 104 and have a batting average of .300. In 885 games
with Texas, he has swatted 167 home runs, added 563 RBIs and is batting .308.
During his 19-year career, Beltre is a four-time All-Star, has won four Silver
Slugger Awards and five Gold Gloves. He is 58 hits away from 3000 and should
get it barring injury in 2017.
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